Ironman Coeur d'Alene : Official Thread

mcfars00 - 2008-11-03 10:21 PM If your planning on running this I will see you at the finish line I am one of the finish line volunteer captians

I'll be there.  You better see me before 5:30 PM

someone posted the following on the endurancenation website concerning the bike course:

Yes, the final stretch coming back into town is somewhat downhill and should allow you to spin out any discomfort before the run.  The only caveat is the potential wind.  In 2007 there was a moderate wind directly in our face heading into town, which more than negate the downhill ride.  Heres to hoping for light winds in 2009!  

This is what I posted back in 07 about the new course:

For what it is worth, here is what I wrote in my log on 4/23/07 about the old course vs the new course:

The New IMCDA Hills

I did a lot of thinking on my ride yesterday about if the new IMCDA bike course is harder than the old one.  I still do not know.  I think that there are more hills on the new course but they are not as big as the old hills.

(I am calling a hill anything that I rode in the small chain ring for over 1 minute) 

The old course had around 10 hills per loop.  The first big hill on Upriver Road was a 10 minute hill (first 6 minutes hard then last 4 minutes not as steep).  The second big hill on Riverview Drive was a hard 5 minute hill.  All of the other hills were in the 1 to 2 minute range.  One problem with the old course was that most of the downhills were followed by a short uphill or tight turn that robbed you of carrying any speed.

The new course has around 18 hills per loop, but only 2 are really bad.  The first big hill is on English Point Road as you climb up to Lancaster Road.  This is a 6 minute hill but only the first 3 minutes are real bad.  The start of this hill is similar to the old Riverview hill but then the last 3 minutes flattens is similar to the top of the old Upriver hill.  The second bad hill is on Hayden Lake Road, this is a 3 minute hill.  You start the hill coming out of a real nice downhill.  What makes this hill hard is the last minute is steeper than the first two minutes.  The remaining 16 hills are probable an even split between 1 minute and 2 minute hills.  There are only two down hills that have bad turns at the bottom so for the most part you can maintain some of your downhill speed.  One of these downhill turns is very ugly, more technical than anything on the old course, at least one person will end there race on this corner.  It is on English Point Road, downhill curve, 180 degrees, decreasing radius, no banking.  Check this corner out carefully before the race and take it slow.

Overall I think that this course will be slower than the old course.  My guess is that the average time loss will be around 20 to 30 minutes (or about 1 mph off of your average speed).  Again I’m not sure if the new course is harder but it is slower. 

After riding it on race day I would change my time loss estimate to around 15 to 20 minutes.  None of the hills are real heart thumpers, I was able to keep my HR under 155 on all the hills and averaged 133 for both loops.  However, this course will punish you on the run if you get stupid on the bike.

Man, that is beautiful.  But the pix don't really show the hills.  I would love to do this course but don't think I can handle the hills.

~Mike

That's what I was hoping for this year, but of course there was a headwind coming back into town, twice.

IMCDA was so cool and fun I would like to go back and do it again for sure!  The support from the town is awesome.  Have fun people, but hope for warmer water temp next year.

Like others have said, don't let that last little bit of downhill fool you.  First of all it's a VERY slight downhill grade and second the prevailing wind is nearly always in your face.  Sometimes strongly in your face.  I've ridden the course dozens of times and can think of maybe a handfull that I had no headwind or a little tailwind during the last 12 miles.  It's a beautiful course but pretty challenging.  Looking forward to seeing all you BT'ers out here next June!

Like others have said, don't let that last little bit of downhill fool you.  First of all it's a VERY slight downhill grade and second the prevailing wind is nearly always in your face.  Sometimes strongly in your face.  I've ridden the course dozens of times and can think of maybe a handfull that I had no headwind or a little tailwind during the last 12 miles.  It's a beautiful course but pretty challenging.  Looking forward to seeing all you BT'ers out here next June! 

Ahhh!  The dreaded double post.

Birkierunner thanks for the course recon.  It looks like a great course.  Not sure about everybody else but I'm getting ready to begin cranking back up the training.  See everybody in June.

Matt

barqhead - 2008-11-21 1:47 PM Uh oh. I like to get stupid on the bike

You too? 

You're right, there isn't a 1000 foot climb at CDA, but there are many, many smaller climbs that tend to suck the life out of you.  I'm not trying to disrespect Lake Placid in any way, it certainly appears to be challenging.  Heck, it's 112 miles on a bike!  Even Florida is challenging in it's own way.  However, for comparison, that 1000 foot climb works out to an average of a little over 66 feet per mile.  English Point hill on the CDA course gains about 250 feet in roughly 1.3 miles.  Even the relatively easy Bennett Bay hill gains probably 100 feet in 3/4 of a mile.  Seems the climbs here are shorter but likely more of them and quite a bit steeper. 

I'm not saying Lake Placid isn't any less of a challenge, like I said, it's an Ironman and they're all a challenge!  Just trying to give you all an idea of what to expect when you come out here.  Next spring, if any of you are planning to come out for a training weekend, let me know and I'll be glad to give you the cook's tour and ride the course with you. 

Hey, thanks for the pics.  It looks awesome.  I ride in very hilly area, so it looks like I just need to get some distance in!  Other than that, just train my tail off and not over think it!  I think about it too much and I'll chicken out!

Shermbelle - 2008-11-21 3:04 PM Why all the IM Couer D Alene threads we are still 7 months out? 

Yeah, I thought those IM KY peeps were obnoxious.